Uploading files to SharePoint containing the ampersand character

Question

I'm trying to upload files and folders to a library using SharePoint Designer 2007 (on a WSS 3.0 SharePoint site).

It's giving me an error when I try to upload empty folders or folders that have an & in their name.

OS: Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008.

Can someone please assist?

Alex Angas · Answer 1 · 2009-06-24 19:55:53Z

up vote 5 down vote

There are certain characters that SharePoint does not allow in the filename. Unfortunately the ampersand character is one of them! Here is a list I've found, I'm not sure if there's an official list somewhere:

char[] InvalidFilenameCharacters = new[] { '\\', '/', ':', '*', '?', '"', '<', '>', '|', '#', '{', '}', '%', '~', '&' };

answered Jun 24 '09 at 19:55

Alex Angas
3,82931871

	thank you!!!!! ! – aspguy Jun 24 '09 at 23:31
	In addition to the characters Alex Angas listed, SharePoint also doesn't support files and folders with Unicode 0-31, 127, or 129-159 in their names (mostly unprintable / invisible). Empty folders can be added in SharePoint Designer using the New Folder button, but they're ignored during import operations. – Morbo Oct 22 '09 at 22:02

Europhile · Answer 2 · 2013-01-29 21:55:41Z

It's still true in SP2010 unfortunately - even though you can now upload, behind the scenes when you need to use functions such as System.Web.HttpUtility.UrlEncode(item_url) and SPEncode.UrlEncode(item_url), they will then unwantedly encode the forward slash as well as ignore ampersands, so it seems not worth the hassle. Same with SP2013 RTM too.

You can show any client/users it's not your fault currently by confirmation here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905231 (covers up to SP2010).

curtisk · Answer 3 · 2009-06-24 19:30:39Z

up vote 0 down vote

Even easier, go to the site in question, go to the library, change the view to explorer view("View:" dropdown at top right of document view pane).

Then you can drag and drop the folder/subfolder/documents directly into sharepoint...maintains structure and will even allow empty folders

answered Jun 24 '09 at 19:30

curtisk
1463

	thanks! i'm using forms based authentication! will it work. so far, fba has not been easy! – aspguy Jun 24 '09 at 19:35
	good question, we don't have any form based, but it will take you second to prove out whether it works, try it! – curtisk Jun 24 '09 at 19:40
	had to switch to windows! empty folders work but not folders with &! thanks! – aspguy Jun 24 '09 at 19:46
	you can't get around the "&" issue, but you can at least retain your particular directory structure – curtisk Jun 24 '09 at 20:01

Enilorac · Answer 4 · 2012-07-24 14:02:11Z

up vote 0 down vote

Here is a list of restrictions in SharePoint. The characters it lists as not being able to be used in a folder name are ~ # % & * { } \ : < > ? / | "

answered Jul 24 '12 at 14:02

Enilorac
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Uploading files to SharePoint containing the ampersand character

migrated from stackoverflow.com Apr 26 '12 at 15:34

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Uploading files to SharePoint containing the ampersand character

migrated from stackoverflow.com Apr 26 '12 at 15:34

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